For Clorox, community involvement is part of its corporate DNA, an attitude reflected by its employees at every level.

Last year, 45 percent of all eligible employees pledged $3.6 million to support more than 1,800 nonprofit groups through their Workplace Giving Program, and Clorox CEO Don Knauss said the Clorox Foundation has put $85 million into various nonprofits and community groups throughout Oakland and the Bay Area since 1980.

But, the company’s support of education programs in the community goes beyond mere monetary support. Clorox founded the Science Education Program 20 years ago to encourage children from diverse backgrounds to pursue an education and career in science and technology. The program is run completely by employee volunteers from Clorox’s research and development departments, reaching out to over 500 students in San Francisco, Contra Costa and Alameda counties in fiscal year 2011.

“We see the key to Oakland is education. The caliber of the educational system is key to the health of any community,” said Knauss, who has personally provided $565,000 worth of scholarships for over 100 kids in the last five years. “We want a vibrant Oakland,” he added. “If Oakland is vibrant, then it helps Clorox in attracting and retaining the best talent.”

One of the company’s strongest commitments for the past 34 years has been to the East Oakland Youth Development Center. The center was created by then-CEO of Clorox Bob Shetterly after he saw an opportunity to help the community.

Today, Clorox continues to support the center, which serves more than 2,000 young people, offering homework help, a GED program, job training, dance and cooking classes targeting youth aged 6-24 in one of Oakland’s most troubled neighborhoods. Several employees serve on the center’s board of directors, while others periodically come down to help out with whatever needs to be done.

Hannah Esqueda is an intern in the San Francisco Business Times newsroom.

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